Chapter Summaries

After Lansseax accidentally injures Tarnished and revives him at a Site of Grace, Melina confronts him about the Frenzied Flame and clashes with Lansseax. Tarnished stops their fight and reveals that Lord Placidusax sent him through time, leaving Lansseax shocked.

• Lansseax carried the exhausted Tarnished in her mouth to the Site of Grace at Scenic Isle, where he protested her unusual method of transport.
• Tarnished reassured Lansseax that he loved her as she was, but she accidentally punched him into unconsciousness after he made a suggestive remark.
• Lansseax revived Tarnished by pressing his hand to the Site of Grace, and Melina appeared and demanded to know why he bore the mark of the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
• Lansseax attacked Melina with Dragon Lightning, and the two fought until Tarnished intervened and claimed that both women were his wives.
• Melina demanded an explanation for Tarnished's connection to the Frenzied Flame, and he said he had traveled back through time with help from Lord Placidusax.
• Lansseax realized Tarnished was claiming that Lord Placidusax had sent him through time and space, and she reacted with shock.

Tarnished explained that Dragonlord Placidusax had mastered temporal elements, and Lansseax described how that power once sustained Farum Azula and how the Ancient Dragons’ civilization fell. The conversation turned to Godwyn’s role in reconciling dragons and the Golden Dynasty, before Tarnished began explaining how becoming the Lord of Frenzied Flame let him travel through time.

• Tarnished admitted that he had never understood or remembered Placidusax’s explanations about temporal elements, while Ashmi and Melina questioned him.
• Lansseax explained that Ancient Dragons could perceive temporal elements and that Placidusax used them to place Farum Azula in a gap in time.
• Lansseax recounted how the dragons lost their god and eternal nature, causing Farum Azula’s protections to fail and driving the Ancient Dragons to the surface.
• Lansseax described the dragons’ war against Leyndell and how Godwyn and Fortissax became friends, allowing the dragons to reconcile with the capital.
• Tarnished said he had become the Lord of Frenzied Flame in another timeline and explained that the Lord was both its ruler and its divine incarnation.

The Tarnished explained that he accepted the Frenzied Flame to save Melina from becoming kindling, then traveled back through time after suppressing the flame. As he discussed his repeated attempts to improve the Lands Between, Ranni returned and revealed she had attacked the Three Fingers.

• The Tarnished told Melina that he became the Lord of Frenzied Flame to spare her from burning herself as kindling for the Erdtree.
• Melina struggled with the revelation, and the Tarnished explained that he had also wanted to stop the Frenzied Flame from destroying everything after it burned Leyndell and killed Torrent.
• The Tarnished said he had traveled through time three times with Placidusax to seek a better ending for the Lands Between.
• Ranni arrived on Glintstone Dragon Adula and told the group she had gone to confront the Frenzied Flame's leader, the Three Fingers.
• Ranni revealed that she had used the Fingerslayer Blade to help the Three Fingers die.

Ranni explained that killing the Three Fingers had not eliminated the frenzied flame, and she reassured Melina that it was a natural force whose followers were the danger. In Limgrave, Tarnished helped oversee spring planting and Ranni brought rain to the fields before everyone gathered for a memorial service at the Church of Marika.

• Ranni revealed that she had killed the Three Fingers to eliminate a threat, and Tarnished embraced her before announcing that Lansseax had accepted his proposal.
• Ranni blasted Tarnished with Comet Azur, then recruited Lansseax as an ally and explained to Melina that the frenzied flame was a natural law rather than an inherently harmful force.
• Tarnished said Vyke and Hyetta could be left alone for now and shifted the group's attention to spring planting in Limgrave.
• Tarnished helped Albinauric workers operate Raya Lucaria's automatic seeders while Morgott, Tanith, and Jerren worked among the fields.
• Ranni brought gentle rain to the fields, and Tarnished joked about his wife before she sprayed him with a harmless Comet Azur.
• Tarnished and the others left the fields to attend a memorial service at the Church of Marika.

Limgrave celebrated its recovery with a ceremony honoring Marika, while Tarnished and his allies reflected on the peace they had built and prepared their next campaign. After revealing that Ranni had completed the Spatial Passage, Tarnished announced that the Five-Party Alliance would travel to the Land of Shadow to kill the Hornsent and purge the monsters.

• Tarnished and his fiancées offered farm produce and game at the restored Third Church of Marika, where the people blessed them and wished for their children.
• Humans, Demi-Humans, Trolls, and Albinaurics shared a plentiful festival meal celebrating Limgrave's recovery.
• Jerren and Tanith thanked Tarnished for helping unite the forces that suppressed Caelid's rot and cleared the Corpse Mountain at Volcano Manor.
• Tanith recounted how famine led her father to sell her to traffickers working for Golden Dynasty nobles, prompting Morgott to apologize.
• Morgott reported that Leyndell was ready and Chief Siluria had gone to recruit Ordovis and Julius, while Tanith revealed Volcano Manor had prepared Man-Serpents.
• Tarnished explained why the alliance had honored Marika, then announced that Ranni had finished expanding the Spatial Passage and the alliance would go to the Land of Shadow.

Tarnished proposed education for all after Raya Lucaria’s Unit Zero overwhelmed the other forces during the Five-Party Alliance’s military exercise in Caelid. The chapter ended with news that Leda had escaped the Mohgwyn Dynasty and returned to the Land of Shadow, a development Tarnished welcomed.

• Tarnished proposed a joint military exercise in Caelid, and the Five-Party Alliance agreed to participate.
• Stormveil demonstrated disciplined tactics, the Redmane Army showcased survival skills against rot, and Leyndell’s forces cleared a Kindred of Rot nest.
• Tanith summoned the God-Devouring Serpent, which massacred mutated creatures in a rot swamp.
• Raya Lucaria’s Unit Zero, piloted by Sellen, demonstrated overwhelming firepower, and the other forces conceded the exercise to the Academy.
• Tarnished proposed education for all, and Leyndell, Volcano Manor, and the Redmane Army offered support.
• A messenger reported that Leda had escaped with Hornsent Kachacha’s help and fled to the Land of Shadow, and Tarnished called the news wonderful.

The Tarnished revealed that he had arranged Leda’s escape so the alliance could follow her to Miquella, then led the Five-Party Alliance through a moonlit passage into the Land of Shadow. The army arrived amid spectral gravestones and beheld the decaying Scadutree.

• The Tarnished explained that Leda’s escape was deliberate and that Tanith’s tracking mark would lead the alliance to her and Miquella.
• Ranni located Leda through the mark, while Tanith revealed that she had modified it with an arousing effect.
• The Tarnished ordered the Five-Party Alliance to muster at the Mohgwyn Dynasty, and the armies assembled there after marching across Caelid.
• The Tarnished commanded the alliance to invade the Land of Shadow, and Ranni opened a moonlit passage for the armies.
• The alliance emerged in a gray land crowded with spectral gravestones and saw the immense black Scadutree on the horizon.
• The Tarnished greeted the Land of Shadow.

Tarnished’s expedition entered the Land of Shadow and clashed with the Hornsent after a Ringed Hornsent attacked the camp. After the Five-Party Alliance killed the attackers, Morgott approved Tarnished’s plan to seize Belurat, and Tanith summoned the God-Devouring Serpent to lead the assault.

• Tarnished and the commanders established camp on the Gravesite Plain and discussed taking the ruined Hornsent city of Belurat as a base.
• A Hornsent Dancer attacked the western camp and badly wounded a Recusant, prompting Tanith to ready the Great Serpent-Hunter.
• Vila and Maren wounded and killed the Hornsent Dancer, and the Five-Party Alliance defeated the seven or eight Ringed Hornsent who charged in afterward.
• Tarnished argued that the Hornsent considered themselves the chosen race, and the sight of their corpses led Morgott to approve attacking Belurat.
• Tarnished called the planned conquest Thanksgiving, and Tanith summoned the God-Devouring Serpent.

The Tarnished’s forces crushed the Hornsent defenses in Belurat, Tower Settlement, and climbed toward the Spiral Tower. At the top, they found its stone door could only be opened from the other side.

• The Great Serpent smashed through Belurat’s gate as Tanith, Siluria’s troops, and Lansseax’s dragons helped clear the town’s defenders.
• The Tarnished’s forces captured three Hornsent, and Jerren killed their leader after learning how the Hornsent used living people as burial offerings.
• The Great Serpent destroyed the Divine Beast Dancing Lion and climbed the stairs to the Spiral Tower with the Tarnished and the others following.
• Morgott examined the sealed stone door at the top of the stairs and told the Tarnished it could only be opened from the other side.

Tarnished blasted through the one-sided door with Unit Zero’s cannon, and Ranni unveiled Enir-Ilim, the hidden city of gods. The alliance began its invasion, but three Divine Bird Warriors overwhelmed the Great Serpent and attacked Tarnished and Ranni as they arrived.

• Morgott mapped a long route around the sealed door, but Tarnished ordered Sellen to fire Unit Zero’s cannon and destroy it.
• Ranni removed the veil concealing Enir-Ilim, and the alliance entered the city after Siluria killed a Ringed Hornsent who attacked Morgott.
• Morgott ordered the army to advance, and the allied forces fought through Hornsent priests and clergy.
• Three Divine Bird Warriors attacked together, forcing the Great Serpent to retreat and trapping the alliance in a fierce battle.
• Tarnished arrived carrying Ranni, dodged a lightning bolt, and threatened to kill the Hornsent attackers.

The Five-Party Alliance faced three Divine Bird Warriors outside Enir-Ilim, while Morgott learned that Marika and her people had been used in the Hornsent’s jar rituals. After Morgott briefly entered the Divine Realm and collapsed, Tarnished protected him, and Siluria, Millicent, and Alexander prepared to fight the warriors.

• Tarnished ordered the ordinary soldiers aside and proposed single combat, but the Alliance’s champions argued over who would fight first.
• Tarnished organized a rock-paper-scissors tournament, and the Lightning Warrior eventually charged the crowd in anger before Morgott stopped him.
• The Storm Warrior recognized Marika’s presence in Morgott and suggested Marika could have reconciled with the Hornsent, but the Lightning Warrior revealed that the Hornsent had stuffed Marika’s people into jars as sacrifices and materials.
• Morgott attacked the Lightning Warrior, then fought the others as holy light rose around him and the Scadutree shed leaves; the Storm Warrior identified the state as the Divine Realm.
• Morgott collapsed before the Divine Bird Warriors’ combined attack, but Tarnished shielded him with a concrete slab and helped him stand.
• Siluria, Millicent, and Alexander prepared to fight, and Morgott ordered Siluria to kill the Lightning Warrior.

The Five-Party Alliance matched Alexander against the Frost Warrior, who nearly defeated him before Alexander awakened a blazing power and punched him into the abyss. Alexander celebrated his victory as the Storm Warrior prepared to fight Millicent.

• Siluria chose the Lightning Warrior, Millicent chose the Storm Warrior, and Alexander was matched with the Frost Warrior.
• Alexander fought the Frost Warrior with punches, but was struck down and left with cracks in his jar body.
• Remembering the Tarnished’s promise of a better future for Jarburg, Alexander rose in flames and unleashed the Flame Rising Dragon Fist.
• Alexander shattered the Frost Warrior’s sword and punched him off the platform into the abyss, killing him.
• The Five-Party Alliance celebrated Alexander’s victory as the Storm Warrior turned to face Millicent.

Millicent defeated the Storm Warrior by mastering the wind and unleashing Waterfowl Dance repeatedly, while the lightning warrior took his place. Siluria entered the arena to face the next opponent.

• Millicent faced the Storm Warrior and endured his powerful attacks, refusing to give up despite her injuries.
• Millicent used the Storm Warrior’s wind to take flight and struck him with Waterfowl Dance, then repeated the move until he was defeated.
• The Storm Warrior yielded after mistaking Millicent’s sword style for that of a swordsman in blue, and the Lightning Warrior knocked him unconscious and carried him away.
• The Lightning Warrior challenged the Five-Party Alliance, and Siluria entered the arena to fight him.

Siluria defeated the Lightning Warrior in a brutal exchange of blows, and the Five-Party Alliance advanced toward the High Tower after Ranni located Leda and Miquella there. Tarnished reached Miquella, resisted his captivating presence, and ordered the alliance to capture him dead or alive.

• Siluria and the Lightning Warrior traded attacks without retreating until their ultimate techniques struck simultaneously, and Siluria pierced his armor and killed him.
• Tarnished revealed that the duels had given Ranni time to locate Leda, who was in the High Tower with Miquella, and ordered the Five-Party Alliance to advance.
• The army entered the High Tower and found a vast ashen space filled with petrified skeletons and a towering gate made of corpses.
• Tarnished and the alliance encountered Leda and Miquella before the corpse-built gate, and Miquella introduced himself to Tarnished.
• Miquella’s voice and beauty entranced many warriors, but Tarnished offered a promotion and a million runes for capturing him, dead or alive.

Miquella escaped the army surrounding the Gate of Divinity and revealed that he had become a god. After killing the Hornsent warrior who demanded his aid, he headed for Shadow Keep to recruit Messmer as his lord, but Ranni marked his location and Tarnished's army caught up.

• Tarnished's vast alliance army charged Miquella at the Gate of Divinity, and Bernahl attacked while Leda defended him.
• Miquella and Leda teleported away, and Ranni revealed that Miquella had become a god and used her power to track Leda's mark.
• Ranni became a moon in the sky to guide Tarnished's army toward Miquella's location.
• Miquella refused to help the Hornsent warrior and had Leda kill him, then chose to go to Shadow Keep and seek Messmer as his lord.
• Moonlight exposed Miquella and Leda, so Tarnished's army pursued them; Miquella discarded his white robe, took Leda's blue cloak, and ordered her to hurry to Shadow Keep.

Miquella escaped the Five-Party Alliance by sacrificing his hair and arm, while Leda was wounded protecting him. At Castle Ensis, Tarnished persuaded Rellana to help stop Miquella by promising to arrange her marriage to Messmer, just as Miquella and Leda appeared nearby.

• Bernahl led the cavalry after Miquella and Leda, forcing Miquella to cut off his long hair as they fled.
• Latenna poisoned Miquella with an arrow, and Leda was wounded while shielding him from the Alliance's attack.
• Miquella severed his poisoned arm, formed a replacement from energy, and teleported away with Leda.
• At Castle Ensis, Tarnished convinced Rellana to help him by promising to get Messmer to marry her.
• Miquella and Leda arrived in a shaft of moonlight outside Castle Ensis, with Miquella short-haired and missing an arm.

Miquella and Leda tried to pass through Castle Ensis, but Tarnished and Rellana trapped them and defeated Leda. Miquella escaped toward Shadow Keep by sacrificing his legs, and Tarnished pursued him with Rellana aboard Lansseax, leaving Rellana to chase the departing dragon on foot.

• Miquella used his charm to make a Mimic Tear posing as Rellana open Castle Ensis, but the real Rellana and Tarnished revealed the deception and sealed the courtyard.
• Rellana ordered the soldiers to shoot Miquella and Leda, then challenged Leda to a duel and defeated her with repeated magical moon attacks.
• Tarnished struck Miquella with a greatsword and sent two Black Knife Assassins after him, but Miquella escaped by abandoning his legs in a burst of golden light.
• Ranni directed Tarnished toward Miquella's escape route, and Tarnished, Vila, and Maren pursued aboard Lansseax with Rellana joining them.
• Rellana asked how Ranni had fallen for Tarnished, then found herself left behind as Lansseax flew off and she ran after them.

Bernahl united the Five-Party Alliance with Castle Ensis by sharing liquor and candy, while Tarnished and Rellana led their group into Shadow Keep to reach Messmer. The chapter ended with Miquella pleading for Messmer to become his lord, only for Messmer to tell him to scram.

• Bernahl won the Black Iron Knights’ cooperation with rum and milk candies, and their forces joined the pursuit toward Shadow Keep while chanting about Miquella’s injuries.
• Lansseax used Ancient Dragon’s Lightning Strike to knock down Hot Pot Man, but Rellana stopped Vila and Maren from destroying the Furnace Visage, explaining that they were scarce.
• Rellana persuaded Shadow Keep’s defenders that she had come to protect Messmer and led Tarnished, Vila, Maren, and Lansseax inside by a shortcut.
• Rellana guided the group past Brother Hippo and toward the Tower Church, where Messmer was waiting.
• Miquella pleaded with Messmer to become his lord and help create a happy new world, but Messmer replied, “Scram.”

Miquella transformed Leda into a vessel for his divine power and sent her into a brutal battle against Messmer, who refused to become his lord. Just as Leda defeated Messmer, the Tarnished arrived with allies and claimed to be Melina’s husband, leaving Messmer stunned.

• Miquella’s bewitching power failed to affect Messmer, so Leda repeatedly protected him from Messmer’s attacks.
• Miquella infused Leda with his godly power, and she fought Messmer with immense strength while her body endured the strain.
• Leda and Messmer exchanged devastating blows until she overpowered him with a golden sword, leaving him badly wounded in the ruins of the High Tower.
• As Leda prepared to deliver the final blow, red lightning struck, and the Tarnished emerged from the dust.
• The Tarnished called Messmer his brother-in-law and said he had come to save him, then introduced himself as Melina’s husband.
• Vila, Maren, Lansseax, and Rellana joined the Tarnished, and Messmer asked whether they were all Melina’s husbands.

Tarnished and his allies fought Leda and Miquella at the High Tower, but their enemies overwhelmed them and Ranni could not return from the stars. Ranni sent Erdtree power instead, allowing Melina to appear beside Tarnished as he called for her to level him up.

• Rellana learned that Melina was Messmer's sister and tried to arrange Ranni and Melina as Tarnished's senior and junior wives.
• Leda attacked Tarnished, defeated Vila, Maren, Lansseax, and Rellana, and forced Messmer to defend him.
• Tarnished called to Ranni for help, but she found that the stars were sealed and could not return to the Lands Between.
• Messmer urged Tarnished to run and charged Leda again, while Tarnished discovered that Melina could not manifest so far from the Erdtree.
• Ranni sent moonlight imbued with Erdtree power, enabling Melina to appear and grow a Minor Erdtree that healed the wounded.
• Tarnished stood beside Melina and shouted, "Melu, level me up!"